studiobeerhorst is making connections

prayer #1

Snow, snow and more snow. It just keeps coming here in Michigan. When it snows like this the chickens pretty much stay in the coop. The other day it had warmed up into the 40s and we had a few chickens in the tractor for the day and then forgot to let them out to roost in the coop for the night and a winter storm kicked up. By the morning they were still alive but covered with snow and ice on much of there feathers. We brought them in the house to thaw out and in the first few minutes one of them dropped the chicken shit mess from hell to let us know that leaving them out all night in a winter storm was NOT all right.

Some times I feel forgotten by God. I know he doesn't really ever forget about us but it sure can feel that way. We are currently in one of those dwindling check book free falls when simple tasks like grocery shopping become steps of faith. (uh, should I get maple syrup today or just go with out?) I really think God allows these periods of extreme vulnerability to teach us to walk by faith rather than by sight. I know these times are precious becuase he has a way of pulling us in tighter to him through the process of living and trusting when the way ahead is scary.

In Matthew 25 Jesus is telling the story about the master who gives his servants different amounts of money depending on their ability. The first two work with the money they are given to increase it. The double what they were given and are rewarded when the master returns. The third servant buried the money for safe keeping. When the master finds this out he is pissed off and declares that it is "criminal to live cautiously like that!...get rid of this play-it-safe who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness." Reading this reminds me that living dangerously is simply the way it is when you are living life God's way.

The drawing pictured here is an illustration proposal for an article on praying I am currently working on for Disciplship Magazine. The art director rejected this idea so I am currently taking it in a different direction.

Please pray that the Beerhorst family will have what it needs when it needs it (and maybe even a day or two early).